royal blue

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Okay. File this one under "Great Job!"

Ijams naturalist Emily Boves reports that the 2009 cerulean warbler research season was recently completed.

Emily assists her husband Than, who is a part of the Cerulean Warbler Technical Group. The field-research project is studying the response of cerulean warbler populations to experimental timber management throughout the species’ breeding range.

Than Boves, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Tennessee in natural resources, is in charge of two study sites in the Cumberland Mountains of Eastern Tennessee: Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area and Sundquist Wildlife Management Area. Because land will continue to be developed, the group is trying to figure how to best manage for cerulean warblers. Their numbers have been steadily declining over the last 20 years and 80 percent of their remaining population now breeds in the Appalachian Mountains. Many believe that the cerulean warbler population has declined more in recent history than any other species of woodland bird.

Than just completed his second field season on July 15. His crew found over 70 nests between the two sites. Sharp-eyed Emily worked for Than both seasons and found 46 nests this year and 35 last year. The nest success rate was over 50 percent both seasons.

Than and Emily, great job!

For more background on the cerulean warbler go to my column on the farragutpress web site.

- Pictured is Emily Boves with a cerulean warbler. Photo by Than Boves